Man facing murder charges

A 19-year-old man is facing federal murder charges, accused of opening fire on a group of people after an argument on the Navajo Nation reservation in Utah's Four Corners area.

Jeremy Harrison, 19, was indicted by a federal grand jury in Salt Lake City on Thursday on charges of second-degree murder, assault with a dangerous weapon and assault resulting in serous bodily injury while within Indian country.

He is accused of shooting and killing Alphonso Benally, 28, as he walked away from Harrison's home in Montezuma Creek, a town on the reservation.

The FBI said that Harrison had gotten into an argument with one of Benally's friends Saturday night. About two hours later, Benally and three friends went to Harrison's home. They were told he wasn't there and turned to leave.

As they walked away, the Navajo Nation Department of Public Safety said Harrison came out and began shooting at them with a .22-caliber rifle. Benally was shot and killed.

"There was another individual who was shot at the time. He is a juvenile," said FBI Special Agent Patrick Kiernan. He did not know the teen's condition.

Alcohol is believed to be a factor in the shooting, tribal police said.

Harrison has been jailed in Shiprock, N.M., where he remains in tribal custody.

---

E-mail: bwinslow@desnews.com